Assessment of Heavy Metals Accumulation in Washed and Unwashed Leafy Vegetables Sector-26 Vashi, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra

Abstract

The accumulation of Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe, Cr, Ni and Mn in vegetables near to industrial area sector-26 Vashi Navi Mumbai were investigated using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy(XRF).The four leafy vegetables washed and unwashed studied include Kardai(Carthamustinctorius L.),Red Mat(Amaranthus dubius), Spinach(Spinaciaoleracea L), Mayalu(Basellaalba.L). The metal concentrations in the unwashed vegetables was high as compare to washed vegetable sample which suggests anthropogenic sources contamination. The levels of Pb, Fe, Cr was observed above the WHO-ML in both washed and unwashed samples. Elevated concentrations of heavy metals were recorded in washed and unwashed sample. The results revealed that heavy metal values in the washed sample ranged from 3.35 mg kg-1- 4.7 mg kg-1(Pb), 12.5 mg kg-1-17.9 mg kg-1(Cu), 52.1 mg kg-1- 65.9 9 mg kg-1 (Zn), 391 mg kg-1-737.6 mg kg-1(Fe), 1.0 mg kg-1-5.9 mg kg-1 (Cr),6.5 mg kg-1 -7.9 mg kg-1 (Ni), 67.3 mg kg-1- 276.2 mg kg-1 (Mn) while those of unwashed were found to be 4.4 mg kg-1-6.8 mg kg-1 (Pb), 15.8 mg kg-1- 20.0 mg kg-1(Cu), 66.0 mg kg-1- 75.8 mg kg-1 (Zn), 1893.0 mg kg-1- 2049.0 mg kg-1 (Fe), 9.0 mg kg-1- 23.8 mg kg-1 (Cr), 8.0 mg kg-1- 10.4 mg kg-1(Ni), 92.3 mg kg-1- 337.2 mg kg-1(Mn).The levels of Cu,Zn,Ni, Mn in washed and unwashed vegetable samples were below the WHO-ML.